Ice-cream freezer



June 13, 1950 L. N. w s 2,511,313 ICE can: mam

Filed July 9, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 14. f u INVEN'OR.

I LesTerN.Y'uhe 20 60' Thrmfifi'aa/fir mm? 39 )1 manual/ 4191146 2 6 5 I z 97 ark/t4. I

ATTORNEY June 13, 1950 L. N. YOHE 2,511,313

ICE CREAM FREEZER Filed July 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IRIVENTYORI Leshar' N Yu'he ATTORNEYS.

v 4 7 a5 Y mm k b \m l hm R mh \mv 4 xx Wm WM N E Q N\ \N\ R w MN K Wm 3 QM, V. \M\ wk .w\\ \N w mm N NW RN gm June 13, 1950 L. N. YOHE IcE CREAM FREEZER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 9, 1945 INVENTOR.

76 37 1.25121" N.YDhE

Q/ 2/ w ATTORNEYS.

iaieso UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE-CREAM rnzszsa Lester N. Yohe, Upper Darby, Pa.

Application July O, 1945, Serial No. 3,068

6 Claims. (Cl. 9-10) The present invention relates to apparatus for freezing desserts or other edible mixtures, such as ice cream. It is particularly well adapted, but not necessarily limited to home use.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide electrically and thermostatically Operated apparatus which may be used in the freezing compartment of an elet trio or gas operated refrigerator, or in the compartment of a quick-freeze unit or in an iced receptacle, and will be automatic in operation at least to the extent of bringing the fluid mixture to the desired smooth, frozen condition by agitation, then breaking the electric current used to operate the agitator and re-establlshing the current if temperature of the edible mixture rises to or beyond that for which the apparatus is set.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved agitator for a freezer of this character, which is simple in formation, easily cleaned, and assists in the provision of a very smooth edible mixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which the agitator is primarily intended to assist in providing a smooth edible mixture but may also be utilized to express the frozen mixture from the cylinder in which the mixture is frozen, thus avoiding the necessity of removing it witha spoon, scoop or other tool.

A still further object is to provide portable apparatus of this character, including an elongated cylinder which may be readily charged with the fluid mixture while remote from the freezing equipment, then sealed and placed in any desired position in the freezing equipment, such as in a vertical or horizontal position, and, when the mixture is frozen, may be removed from the freezing equipment and placed on a rack in a horizontal position where the frozen mixture may be expressed from an end of the cylinder by the motor and agitator, and readily cut off into portions while it is thus being expressed from the cylinder.

Other objects and advantages or the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the freezer, with its axis horizontal.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the freezer showing a support for the one end of the freezer cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation, showing a typical 2 adjmtable support for the other end of the freezer cylinder, when in a horizontal position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the freezer cylinder, its one end cap and companion support in place, and the other cap and companion support removed, the parts being arranged with the axis so cavity of a housing, on the front cap, for said transmission and control means.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the front cap of the freezer cylinder, looking toward the inner face thereof.

Fig. 10 is a similar view but looking toward the iinnerfaceoftherear capo!thefreezercylin- Fig. 11 is an enlarged, detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of control mechanism showninl 'igs. 5 and 7.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showin the freezer mounted on a rack, the rear can removed, and a portion of the freeze broken away to disclose the manner in which the agitator of the freezer may be used to express the frozen mixture from the cylinder.

Fig. 13 is a rear end elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a typical electric wiring diagram.

The preferred embodiment of the freezer comprises an elongated container I! for the edible mixture; a front support it and a rear support il whereby the container may be disposed on a horizontal surface It, such as the top of a table, with the axis of the container horizontal: an agitator It in the container adapted to circulate the edible mixture longitudinally of the container; an electric motor 20; motion transmitting means 2| operatively connected with the motor and the agitator to impart movement of the former to the latter; thermostatic and manually operable electric switch mechanism 22 for the motor circuit; and, a stand 23 for use when the frozen mixture is being expressed from the container.

Referring flrst to the container II, it prefer- 3 ably comprises a hollow cylindrical main body 24, having external screw threads 25 and 26 at its front and rear ends, respectively, a front end cap 21 and a rear end cap 28, thus providing a cylindrical cavity 29 for receiving the edible mixture to be frozen. The front end cap 21 preferably includes an annular body portion 30 having an integral annular attaching flange 3| provided with an internal screw thread 32 for engagement with the thread 25 of cylinder 24 and an'integralclosing wall 33 inwardly of the free edge of flange 3|, thus providing a chamber 34, for parts of the thermostatic and manually operable electric switch mechanism 22, and the motion transmitting means 2l, the closing wall having a central bearing 35 for a part of the latter, and a screw threaded opening 36 for a part of the mechanism 22. There is also provided an instrument wall 31 forming a part of the front end cap closing the chamber 34, this wall 31 being provided with a bearing 38 aligned with bearing 35, transverse openings 39, 49, 4! and 42, to accommodate parts of the means 2|, and mechanism 22, and inwardly projecting spaced bearing lugs 43 and 44 for a part of the motion transmitting means 2|. The closing wall 33 is provided with an annular gasket 45 at the inner end of flange 3| to engage the forward end of cylinder 24 and provide a ti ht seal when the cap 21 is in place, as shown in Fig. 5.

' The rear end cap 28 comprises a closing wall 41 provided with a step bearing 48 axially aligned with bearings 35 and 38 and extending from its inner surface, an annular attaching flange 49 provided with an internal screw thread for engagement with thread 26 of the cylinder 34, and an annular gasket 52 at the inner end of flange 49 to engage the rear end of cylinder 24 and provide a tight seal when the cap 28is in place, as shown in Fig. 5.

Since it is desired to provide a freezer which may be disposed on a flat surface with the axis of the freezer horizontal, and guard against its tipping or rolling when in storage or on display, or when in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator, or when expressing the frozen mixture from the container, the support I6 is provided. It may be a plate having its major portion 53 shaped to conform with the wall 31 of cap 21 and a widened base 54 having a flat lower edge 55 to engage the flat surface l8. The major portion 53 is provided with openings 56, 51 and 58 aligning with the openings 39, 68 and 41, res ectively of the wall 31 for a purpose .to be subsequently set forth. The support 16 may be secured to the front end cap 21, by screws 59 and the wall 31 may be secured to support 16 by screws 68, which may also be used to secure the motor 20 to the support I 8.

' The rear end support I1 is similar to support 3 in that it comprises a major portion 61 shaped to conform with the wall 41 of cap 28 and a widened base 62 having a flat lower edge 63 to engage the flat surface l8. However the support i1 is preferably secured to cap 28. by adjusting means 64 shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 whereby the support may be adjusted about the axis of the container 15. This means may comprise two screw threaded studs 65 rigid with the cap 28, extending outwardly from its outer face and spaced equidistant from the axis of the cap and diametrically aligned, and two nuts 66 for the studs 85. The latter extend thru arcuate slots 61 in the support 11, these slots struck from a center of the major portion 6| and at a radius equal to the spacing of each stud from the axis of the cap 28. By this arrangement means is provided, cooperat- 4 ing with the support l6, for staple support of the container in a horizontal position and to compensate for wear or the degree of compression of the gaskets 45 and 52, resulting from removal and replacing of the caps 21 and 28 with respect to the cylinder 24, since, if the lower edges 55 and 63 .arev not in the same plane, when the caps are in 'or spiral body portion 19, a front hub 11 provided with a polygonal or multiple splined stub extension 12 for detachable coupled relation with the motion transmitting means 2|, and a rear hub 13 provided with a cylindrical stub extension 15 received in bearing 48. In referring to the agitator l9 as having an open screw center body portion. the term screw is used to denote a characteristic similar to the cork penetrating portion of a cork screw, in that it comprises several spiral convolutions. The external peripheral edge 15 of the body portion 19 contacts the peripheral wall of the cavity 29, the direction of rotation of the agitator being clockwise, viewed from its rear end, so as to circulate the edible mixture toward cap 28 adjacent the cylinder wall and permit it toreturn toward the front cap 21 at the longitudinal central portion of the cylinder.

The electric motor 29 may be of any suitable type, including a drive shaft 16 which, in the exam le shown, extends thru the openings 39 and 56, into the chamber 34.

Any suitable motion transmitting means may be provided for imparting movement of the motor shaft 16 to the agitator I 9. In the example shown it is of the speed reducing type and compactly arranged in the chamber 34. It comprises a worm 11 on shaft 16, a worm wheel 18 meshing therewith, mounted on a shaft 19 carried by the bearing lugs 33 and 44; a worm on shaft 19 between the lugs 43 and 44, and a worm wheel 8 I, meshing with the worm 80, and provided with a hub 82 having a stub axle 83 supported by bearing 38 and a stub axle 84 received in bearing 35. The axle 84 has a multiple splined socket 85' for receiving the extension 12 of the agitator 19. Thus the front end cap 21 may be removed by unscrewing it from the cylinder 24, and the agitator removed or it may be permitted to remain in the cylinder, which can be stood on end, as shown in Fig. 4, to receive the edible mixture in fluid form. The rear end cap 28 may also be removed, as y unscrewin it from the cylinder 24, and the agitator remaining in the cylinder may be used to express the frozen edible from the cylinder as is obvious from a consideration of Fig. 12.

With reference to the thermostatic and manually operable electric switch mechanism, shown more in detafl in Figs. 2. 5, '7, 8, 9 and 11, it preferably comprises a switch unit 65, for making and breaking the circuit of motor 20, including a contact arm 88 normally spring biased to an open circuit position, but movable to a closed circuit position upon depression of a plunger 81; an actuating arm 88 movably carried by the switch unit and bearing against the plunger 81; means 89 mounting the switch unit 85 in chamber 34 to be bodily movable toward and from the wall 33; a thermostatic means 90 carried by the wall 33 and including a plunger 9| bearing against the 8 actuating arm 00, at the face thereof opposite to the face of the arm that is in engagement with plunger 01; means 02 carried by the wall 31 and support I0 for bodily adjusting the position of the switch unit 00; and means 03 carried by the wall 31 and support I0 for manually imparting movement to the actuating arm 00 for closing the motor circuit, irrespective of the thermostatic means 00.

The switch unit 00 may be of any suitable type and in the example shown is similar to that disclosed in United States patent, McGall, No. 1,960,020, granted May 22, 1934. It includes an elongated casing 04 of insulating material in which is disposed the contact arm 00 yieidably disposed in contact with a stop 00 by means of a spring 00 which may be actuated by depression of the plunger 01. The plunger contacts the spring and extends toward the wall 30, so as to bring the contact arm into engagement with an electric contact 01 forming a part of the motor circuit, when the plunger is depressed. These are elements of many forms of snap switches of which McGall, supra, is an example.

The actuating arm 00, whi h cooperates with means 90 and 03 is preferably made of spring metal and in the example shown is of Z formation permitting a compact assembly, and includes a lower portion 09 secured to the casing 04 as by a screw I00, this lower portion engaging the plunger 31; offset portion IOI extending from portion 00 toward wall 31; and, upper portion I02 carried by offset IN and substantially paralleling the plane of wall 31, the free end of portion I02 being bifurcated to provide tines I03 separated by a notch I04. Thus if the actuating arm 00 is pushed by the plunger 0| of means 00 toward the wall 31 it will depress plunger 01 and throw the contact arm 06 into engagement with contact 91 as shown in Fig. 11. If plunger H is retracted it will permit the actuating arm to'move toward the wall 33 and spring 00 will throw the contact arm 00 out of engagement with contact 01.

The means 00 for movably mounting the switch unit 85 may comprise a bracket I00 secured to the wall 31 in any suitable manner, and a pivot I00 extending transversally thru the casing 04 at one end portion thereof, the pivot being carried by ears I01 of the bracket disposed at each side of the casing 04.

The thermostatic means 00 may be of any suitable character and in the example shown comprises a cylindrical casing I08 providing an elongated chamber I09 in which there is disposed, at

one end, an elastic sack I I0, such as of rubber,

containing a substance III, such as mercury, capable of contracting during change from high to'low temperature, a piston-like portion II2 of plunger 0| engaging the sack III, and a coil spring II3 engaging the portion H2 at its face opposite the sack I I0 and abutting against a detachable cap II4 of the casing I00, thru which extends a stem II! of plunger 0I. The casing is preferably provided with an external screw thread IIO for engagement in the threaded opening 30 in wall 33, and a wrench receiving enlargement I I1 whereby it may be turned tight and for compressing a washer IIO disposed between the enlargement II! and wall 33, to prevent leakage of material from one compartment to another.

In order that the freezer may be set to break the motor circuit when the desired temperature has been attained in the cavity 20, i. e., when the edible mixture has been frozen to the desired degree, and to permit a range of adjustment, the means 02 is provided. It comprises a nut IIO swiveled to the switch casing; a threaded stem I20, revoluble in the openings 40 and 01, having the screw threaded engagement with nut I I0; and a knob I2I on stem I20 at the exterior of the container II, the stem being held against longitudinal movement by the knob I and a collar I22 on the stem, bearing against the inner face of wall 31. The outer face 0! the support I0 may carry delineations I23, as shownin Fig. 2, to facilitate positioning a pointer I24 of the knob at the selected graduation in the well known manner, to bring about the desired adjustment. Thus, if the pointer is swung to the left, the threaded portion of stem I20 will feed the nut I I0 toward wall 33, and move the switch unit toward that wall. Consequently a lower temperature will be required in the chamber 20, before the thermostat plunger 0| will be retracted sumciently to permit the contact arm 06 of the switch to break the circuit than if the pointer is at one of the graduations to the right.

Means 03 i provided to cooperate with the actuating arm 00 to close the motor circuit even tho the low temperature in chamber 20 has been satisfied and the thermostatic means 00 has caused the motor circuit to become broken. Thus by use of means 03, the motor 20 may be used to express the frozen mixture from chamber 20 as previously described. The means 03 preferably comprises a stem I25 reciprocable in a casing I20 secured to the support I0 and wall 31 by a screw I21 and accommodated in the openings 4I and 00; a spring operated detent I20 in the casing I20 which may enter either of annular grooves I20 and I30 in the stem I25; a knob III on the outer end of the stem; and, a head I32 on the inner end of the stem. The stem extends thru the notch I04 between the tines I03 of actuating arm 00. The stem I25 is sufliciently long that when the detent I20 is in groove I20, the head I32 is sufllciently remote from the tines I03 that it will not interfere with adjustment of the i switch unit 05, thru means 02. However, if a pull is exerted on knob I3l to draw, the stem outwardly, so that the detentis disposed in groove I30, then the head I32 will have engaged the tines I03 and actuated the arm 00 to the extent that it will have depressed the switch plunger 01 and completed the motor circuit, irrespective of the position of the plunger 0| of thermostatic means 00.

In Figsl, 5 and 11, the elements of means 03 are shown in position to permit the thermostatic means 00 to make and break the motor circuit. In Fig. 12, the knob I3I and stem I20 are shown in an outward position, for completing the motor circuit even tho the mixture in-chamber 29 is frozen to the desired extent, but so as to express the mixture from the chamber by use of the agitator I0.

The stand 23, shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be conveniently formed of wire and includes arouate saddle portions I33 for engaging the lower portion of cylinder 24 adjacent its ends; standards I34 at the ends of the saddles I33; and longitudlnally extending base portions I35 joining the lower ends of the standards I34 at each side of the stand. The stand may be made sufllciently high to permit a tray or plate not shown in the drawing, to be slipped beneath the egress end of cylinder 24 so that the frozen mixture may be 7 'I'hewiringisverysimpleasshowninl'igJL A plug Ill shown in Fig. 1 may be provided for Plugging-in the circuit in the usual way. Wires I31 and I" from the plug may be let into the housing of motor 20', the former going directly to a brush in of the motor and the other to the terminal m of switch unit as thru opening 4:. A third wire Ill leads from the contact 91 of the switch unit as thru opening 42 to the other brush I42 01' the motor.

It is believed the operation oi. the freezer is clear from the foregoing description. However it is pointed out that, at room temperature, the substance III in sack l I I isexpanded sufliciently to cause the plunger OI to close the switch of the motor circuit. Hence, the agitator It starts to rotate as soon as there is electric current available as by plugsins-in plug I38. As the temperature 'in chamber 29 becomes lower the substance ll contracts until finally the plunger ll is moved responsive to action of spring 3 to a position where the spring 96 of the switch unit causes the motor circuit to be broken. If for some reason the temperature in chamber 29 again becomes higher, the motor circuit may again become closed by expansion of the substance Hi. When it is desired to elect the frozen mixture from chamber 29 the end cap 2 6 is removed, and the motor started by operating means 93.

It is of course understood that any suitable type of bearing 35 may be provided to prevent passage of fluid from chamber 29 to chamber 34 and from the latter to the former. The chamber :4 may contain any desirable type 01' lubrican While I have herein referred to the apparatus as an ice cream i'reezer, it is of course understood that the apparatus may be used for freezing various edible mixtures in addition to compositions from which ice cream is made, the apparatus being readily adjustable as to automatic shut-oil at various selected temperatures and not dependent upon resistance to movement the agitator for breaking of the motor circuit or rendering the motion transmitting means between the motor and agitator inoperative.

I claim:

1. In a freezer for edible mixtures, the combination of a container for the edible mixture comprising a hollow cylindrical main body, end caps each having screw threaded detachable connection with said main body and compressible gaskets carried by said caps for engagement with .the ends of the main body; a support carried by one of said caps and having fixed relation thereto, for supporting one end portion of said container upon a surface; and, a support carried by the other of said caps and adjustable about the axis of said body portion, for supporting the other end portion of the container upon a. flat surface, said last mentioned support permitting adjustment for stable support of the container in a horizontal position and to compensate for wear or the degree of compression of said gaskets resulting from removal and replacing of the caps with respect to the main body portion.

2. In a, freezer for edible mixtures, the combination of an elongated container having a cylindrical cavity for receiving the edible mixture and including a detachable end cap; a screw agitator in said container constructed and arranged to circulate the edible mixture mainly in a direction longitudinally of the container;

tor for imparting movement or the former to the latter; a normally open electric switch for making and breaking the electric circuit of said motor; thermostatic means influenced by the temperature in said container to close said switch when the temperature in said container is hkher than that desired for the mixture therein and to permit the switch to open when the desired temperature is attained; and, manually operable means for closing said switch independently of said thermostatic means, whereby the motor may be used, when said end cap is detached, for operating said screw agitator to express the frozen mixture from the container. Y

3. In a freezer for edible mixtures, the combination of an elongated container having a cavity for receiving the edible mixture, including a detachable end cap; a screw agitator in said cavity constructed and arranged to circulate the edible mixture mainly in a direction longitudinally of the container; an electric motor; motion transmitting means operatively connected with said motor and agitator for imparting movement of the former to the latter; and control mechanism for said electric motor comprising thermostatic means including an element movable as a result of temperature changes in said cavity, manually movable means, a normally open electric switch, and means operatively engaged by said movable element of said thermostatic means and by said manually movable means to close said switch thru the influence of said thermostatic means only when the temperature in said container is higher than that desired for the mixture therein, and to close said switch thru the influence of said manually movable means independently of said thermostatic means, to express the frozen edible mixture from said cavity thru operation of said motor, transmission and screw agitator, when said end cap is detached from the container.

4. In a, freezer for edible mixtures, the combination of an elongatedv container having a cavity for receiving the edible mixture, including a detachable end cap; a screw agitator in said cavity constructed and arranged to cir culate the edible mixture mainly in a direction longitudinally of the container; an electric motor; motion transmitting means operatively connected with said motor and agitator for imparting movement of the former to the latter; and a thermostatic and manually operable electric switch mechanism for the motor circuit adapted to thermostatically complete the circuit only when the temperature in said container is higher than that desired, and adapted to be manually operated to complete the circuit when the desired temperature in said container has been attained, to express the frozen edible mixture from said cavity thru operation of said motor, transmission and screw agitator, when said end cap is detached from the container.

5. In a freezer for edible mixtures, the combination of an elongated container having 7 a cavity for the edible mixture, comprising a body portion, a detachable rear end cap, and a front end cap including a, closing wall and an instrument wall spaced therefrom to provide a screw instrument chamber; an agitator in said cavity, constructed and arranged to circulate the edible mixture mainly in a direction longitudinally of the container; an electric motor; motion transmitting means operatively connected with said motor and agitator to impart movement or the former to the latter; a switch for the motor circuit including a contact arm, normally spring biased to a first open circuit position and movable to a second closed circuit position, and a plunger extending toward said closing wall for actuating said contact arm to said second position when depressed; means mounting said switch in said chamber to be bodily movable toward and from said closing wall; an actuating arm movably carried by said switch and hearing against the said plunger; a thermostatic means carried by said closing wall and including a plunger bearing against said actuating arm at its face opposite that face which engages said switch plunger, and responsive to temperature changes in said cavity, adapted to be projected when the temperature is high, and retracted as the temperature lowers; means carried by said instrument wall for bodily adjusting said switch and actuating arm toward and from said thermostatic means whereby to regulate the breaking of the motor circuit when the desired temperature in said cavity has been attained, and means carried by said instrument wall for manually imparting movement to said actuating arm for closing, the motor circuit, irrespective of said thermostatic means, to express the frozen edible mixture from said cavity thru operation of said motor, transmission and screw agitator, when said end cap is detached from the container.

6. In a freezer for edible mixtures, the combination of a container having a cavity for the edible mixture and including a, closing wall and an instrument wall spaced therefrom to provide an instrument chamber; an agitator in said cavity constructed and arranged to circulate the edible mixture therein; an electric motor;- motion transmitting means operatively con-' nected with said motor and agitator to impart movement of the former to the latter; a switch for the motor circuit including a contact arm normally sprin biased to a first open circuit position and movable to a second closed circuit position, and a plunger extending toward said closing wall for actuating said contact arm to said second position when depressed; means mounting said switch in said chamber to be bodily movable toward and from said closing wall; an actuating arm movably carried by said switch and bearing against the said plunger; a

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 749,286 Gerner Jan. 12, 1904 1,981,010 Torson Nov. 20, 1934 2,036,217 Jordan Apr. '7, 1936 2,085,160 Kaup et al June 29, 1937 2,125.693 Ralph, Jr. Aug. 2, 1933 2,209,979 Johnson Aug. 6, 1940 

